Posts Tagged Chicago Academy for the Arts

Over 24 years ago, a group of talented and dedicated Chicagoans under the
leadership of Essee Kupcinet came together to found the Chicago Academy for the
Arts. For its over 1,000 students since its founding, the Academy has created
tremendous opportunities in the performing arts. One of the founders and a dear
friend of Eli’s and our family is Joyce Sloane, Producer Emeritus of Second
City. As stated at the luncheon honoring Joyce by comedian and Second City
Alumni, Tim Kazurinsky, “before there was the internet, there was Joyce keeping
everyone in touch.”

All of us at Eli’s join the supporters of the Academy and Joyce’s countless
friends in congratulating her on this great Award

Joyce Sloane, with her biggest booster, Elana Schulman

Arts Academy Facts

The Chicago
Academy for the Arts was established in 1981 and has a distinctive place as the
only non-profit, college-preparatory, high school in Illinois dedicated to
providing its students with intensive training in the arts.

Each year,
95% of The Arts Academy graduates go on to study at excellent colleges,
universities, conservatories and other institutions of post-secondary
education.

Five hours
of each student’s eight-hour school day is spent in college-preparatory classes
in English, mathematics, foreign language, science, and history. The remainder
of the day is focused on learning the theory, history and technique of the
student’s chosen art discipline — dance, music, musical theatre, theatre, visual
arts, or media arts — through intensive classroom and studio work. Arts Academy
students are also required to take self-selected enrichment courses in one or
more of the other arts.

Performing
and exhibiting experiences are essential elements of the arts training offered
to Arts Academy students. More than 80 performances, recitals, concerts, plays,
gallery shows and readings, as well as numerous publications are offered to the
general public each year.

The Chicago
Academy for the Arts attracts 50% of its students from within the limits of the
City of Chicago, 44% of its students from Chicago’s suburbs, including Wisconsin
and Indiana, 6% from around the country and the rest of the world.

The Chicago
Academy for the Arts was founded in 1981 by a group of dedicated artists,
educators, and business professionals that included sculptress Zelda Werner,
Second City Producer Emeritus Joyce Sloane, actress Essee Kupcinet, and educator
William Gaines, Ph.D. With its first graduating class in 1983, the Arts Academy
(then named The Academy for the Performing and Visual Arts) set out to offer
talented, high school-aged students an opportunity to obtain a high school
diploma while receiving professional training in the performing and visual arts.
Now in its twenty-third year, The Chicago Academy for the Arts continues to
offer students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and has expanded
its professional training to include the Media Arts.

The Arts Academy
first opened its doors at 720 West Adams in Chicago, Illinois with nearly one
hundred students in attendance. In its earlier years, the school balanced
academic and arts classes though space was limited. In 1990, the school moved to
its current location at 1010 west Chicago Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Today,
the facility has spacious academic classrooms, a recital hall, three dance
studios, a recording studio, a video editing system, a piano lab, private and
ensemble practice rooms, theatre studios, a 60 seat proscenium black box
theatre, scenery and costume shops, a fully equipped sculpture facility, and two
art galleries.

Located in an urban setting, The Chicago Academy for the Arts
has always relied upon the professional arts community to help provide a
well-rounded education to its students. Located just a train ride away from
professional theatres and galleries, Arts Academy students routinely visit The
Lyric Opera of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, The
Goodman Theatre, The Art Institute, The Gene Siskel Film Center, and
more.

Recognized as a member of the global arts community, the Arts
Academy has enjoyed guest appearances by numerous celebrities including Carol
Channing, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, James Belushi, Marvin Hamlish, Roddy
McDowell, and Brian Dennehy.

Along with its distinguished arts programs,
The Chicago Academy for the Arts continues to prepare students academically
through its college-preparatory program. Arts Academy students may take honors
courses and advanced placement courses. The average ACT and SAT scores of Arts
Academy students range above the national average. Graduating seniors select
among the top schools in the country for their post high school education
including New York University, The University of Chicago, Northwestern
University, Cornell University, and The Juilliard School.